Lasers are a common tool in dentistry. They can be used for teeth whitening, tooth decay, gum disease, and mouth lesions.

Using lasers in dentistry for tooth tissue procedures and other dental conditions became common in the 1990s.

This type of treatment may offer a range of benefits, from being more cost-effective to being less painful than dental drills or non-laser tools.

Standing for “light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation,” a laser creates light energy in a very narrow and focused beam. When it hits tissue, it produces a reaction that allows for that tissue to be removed or shaped.

Laser dentistry is used in a variety of procedures, including:

  • treating hypersensitivity
  • treating tooth decay
  • treating gum disease
  • whitening teeth

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved laser dentistry as a treatment option for several dental conditions.

While the American Dental Association doesn’t approve, they do have guidelines that note how dental laser therapy is effective and beneficialTrusted Source for modern dentistry.

The two main types of procedures used for laser dentistry are hard tissue and soft tissue procedures. Hard tissue refers to the teeth, and soft tissue refers to the gums.

Common hard tissue procedures include:

  • Cavity detection: Lasers can detect cavities early by finding evidence of tooth decay.
  • Tooth preparations and dental fillings: Local anesthesia and traditional drills are often not needed with laser treatments. Lasers can kill bacteria in a cavity, which can aid in the long-term health of a tooth.
  • Treating tooth sensitivity: Teeth that are sensitive to hot and cold can be treated with dental lasers that seal tubules on the tooth’s root.

Common soft tissue procedures include:

  • Treating a “gummy smile”: Lasers are used to reshape gum tissue associated with a “gummy smile,” in which the gums’ length covers much of the tooth.
  • Crown lengthening: This procedure reshapes both gum tissue and bone for healthier tooth structure, which helps with placing restorations on the teeth.
  • Treating tongue frenulum attachment: People with a thick or tight frenulum may benefit from laser frenectomy. The frenulum is the fold of skin under the front part of your tongue that anchors it to the mouth floor. This treatment helps children whose restricted frenulum causes them to be tongue-tied, have difficulty nursing, or have a speech impediment.
  • Removing soft tissue folds: Lasers can remove soft tissue folds from ill-fitting dentures without pain or sutures.

Other laser procedures include:

  • Viewing tissues: Optical coherence tomography allows a doctor to safely see inside a tooth or gum tissue.
  • Removing benign tumors: Lasers can remove tumors from the palate, gums, and sides of the lips and cheeks through a pain-free and suture-free method.
  • Treating obstructive sleep apnea: Lasers can reshape the throat and relieve associated breathing problems when sleep apnea is caused by tissue overgrowth in the throat.
  • Treating TMJ (temporomandibular joint): Lasers can help reduce pain and inflammation in the joint.
  • Nerve regeneration: Lasers can help regenerate damaged blood vessels, nerves, and scars.
  • Treating cold sores: Lasers can minimize healing time and reduce pain from cold sores.
  • Teeth whitening: Lasers speed up the bleaching process during teeth whitening sessions.

Laser treatments such as these can vary in price depending on the procedure being done and the laser equipment used. Compared to non-laser treatment, they may be less expensive because the laser treatment is usually completed in fewer sessions.

Dental insurance usually determines reimbursement costs based on the treatment itself and not on what method is used. So, your compensation is likely to be the same as it would be with drilling and other procedures.

It’s always important to ask about your specific policy beforehand to get the most accurate information.

Dental professionals use either hard tissue or soft tissue lasers, depending on the treatment. Some will use both types if the treatment allows.

Hard tissue lasers can cut through tooth structure. Their wavelengths are absorbed by the combination of water and a specific mineral found in teeth. These lasers are most often used to prep or shape teeth for composite bonding, repair worn-down dental fillings, and remove some tooth structure.

Benefits of using lasers in dentistry

  • There is potentially a decreased need for sutures with soft tissue lasers.
  • Bleeding is minimized in treated soft tissues, as the laser promotes blood clotting.
  • With some procedures, anesthesia is unnecessary.
  • The chance for bacterial infections is lower because the laser sterilizes the area.
  • Wounds can heal fasterTrusted Source, and it’s possible for tissue to regenerate.
  • The procedures may involve less damage to the surrounding tissues.

Disadvantages of using dental lasers

  • Lasers can’t be used on teeth that already have certain types of filling, such as metal amalgam.
  • Hard lasers can sometimes injure tooth pulp.
  • Some laser procedures still require anesthesia.
  • Drills are still sometimes needed to complete fillings, including shaping, adjusting the bite, and polishing the filling.
  • Certain procedures can’t be done with laser treatment, depending on the preexisting surrounding tissue or components involving the tooth or gums.
  • There is a risk of gum injury.

The risks of laser dentistry are relatively small. It’s important to find a qualified dental professional, as using the wrong wavelength or power level could damage tissue.

Some dental professionals worry that advertisers are pushing the use of laser treatment beyond what people actually need.

Your dentist will have you use special glasses to protect your eyes from the laser.

Dental lasers can be used for children, though it’s not as commonplace as it is for adults.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes that this is a complementary tool that can benefit kids, though it points out that pediatric dentists need more training to use this method. It applies to infants, children, teens, and adults with special healthcare needs.

Find a dentist

To find a qualified dentist for laser treatment, look for a professional who has taken educational courses and received the appropriate training. Popular sources of education are through dental schools and dental associations, as well as through the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD).

You can also ask your insurance provider for recommendations and ask friends and family who have had positive experiences with laser dentistry.

Websites with rating systems can also be useful, though it’s important to determine whether the raters are giving unbiased opinions.

Lasers have been a common tool in dentistry since the 1990s. Several types of lasers may be used for various dental procedures, including teeth whitening and treating tooth decay, gum disease, and mouth lesions.

Despite the benefits, dental lasers do have disadvantages. Certain procedures can’t be done with laser treatment, and there may be a risk of gum injury or tooth pulp damage from using dental lasers.

But overall, dental laser therapy is effective and beneficial for modern dentistry. This can help a procedure be less painful and also heal faster afterward.